The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

Main menu

IWM London
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM North
Manchester
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM Duxford
Cambridgeshire
Open daily

Summer 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm

Winter 10am - 4pm
Last admission 3pm

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
Churchill War Rooms
London
Open daily 9.30am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
HMS Belfast
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information

Collections search

Newborough, Robert Charles Michael Vaughan Wynn (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-03-03
British civilian commanded Fleet Air Arm vessel during evacuation of Dunkirk, 5/1940-6/1940; officer commanded MTB 74 during raid on St Nazaire 3/1942; POW in Marlag und Milag Nord and Oflag IV C Colditz, Germany, 1942-1944. Escaped by being repatriated...
Anckorn, Fergus Gordon (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2002-04-16
British gunner served with 118th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB and Singapore, Malaya, 1939-1942; POW in Singapore, Malaya and on Burma-Thailand Railway, 1942-1945
Moran, James Michael (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991-02-17
British officer served aboard HMS Malvernian in Atlantic, 1940-1941 including sinking 1941; POW in Marlag and Milag Nord, Stalag VIII B, Lamsdorf and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1941-1945
Hoggard, John Wellesley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-11-06
British officer served aboard HMS Voltaire in Mediterranean and Atlantic, 1939-1941 including sinking by German raider Thor, 4/4/1941; POW in Stalag X B, Sandbostel, Marlag Nord and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1941-1942
IWM interview
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British officer served with 29 Sqdn Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1917; POW in Germany, 1917-1918. Served as Head of Air Staff Department, Secret Intelligence Service in London, 1929-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Unknown (interviewee/speaker) 1945-06-25
British officer took part in St Nazaire raid 3/1942
Adventures as Prisoner on Sea and Land
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1941-08-28
British officer served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Mopan account of period as POW aboard Admiral von Scheer, Nordmark and in France and escape through France, 1940-1941
recording
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1941-09-18
British engineer served with Merchant Navy aboard Doric Star in Atlantic account of capture, period as POW aboard Graf Spee and Altmark and rescue by HMS Cossack in Norway, 1939-1940 [in Welsh]
Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green
(sound) Made by: Barraclough Carey/Channel 4 (Production company) 1996
Argentine officer served with Argentinian Army units at battle of Darwin Hill during Falklands/Malvinas war 1982 [In Spanish; English typescript]
Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green
(sound) Made by: Barraclough Carey/Channel 4 (Production company) 1996
Argentinian soldier served with Argentine Army units at battle of Darwin Hill during Falklands/Malvinas war, 1982 [In Spanish; English typescript]